I've started this blog (whether it gets readership or not) to document my weight loss program. I refuse to call it a 'plan' as I'm afraid that that is what it will remain.
I've thought of myself as Fat all my life. When I was a child, I had a stomach. So the rest of me was normal, but I always had a paunch. In my teen years, I was very conscious of my stomach (even though I actually looked pretty good). There were other reasons that I was conscious in my teen years, but that is fodder for a different blog. So when I entered university, I was convinced I was fat, I did stuff (like targetted exercise) to reduce particular areas. They worked, they didn't work... so I continued to feel fat. In reality, I was reasonably fit, just not toned in certain areas (like stomach).
When I finished university, I rapidly gained weight. Apparently I was getting a lot of exercise during university that I didn't even realise. In retrospect it appears that my body image has always been 'fat'. So I didn't even realise for a while that I had gained weight. Then it became a bit obvious - everybody told me that I'd become fatter. Around the same time I met my husband. Our typical dates involved eating out - and eating well. I understand that it's not a blame game. But clearly, if our interests were in exercise, I'd have gotten fitter. I was also living on my own. I tolerated my own cooking, but my husband was less than excited. Which meant eating out more.
In mid-2004, I went to Singapore to do a Masters. It was a one year program and the food available locally was not very appealing. Also, I didn't have much money. So I started cooking. Also, I was a student so had to use public transport. This meant walking to bus stops, walking from bus stops etc. It also meant that I had free time. I stayed in an apartment complex which had a pool - a nice, big, pool. My flatmates were enthusiastic about swimming. One is Chinese, the other Vietnamese - so no paunch at all. In three months, I was better - toned and lighter. Overall healthier. I moved at some point, but continued to eat at home and to exercise - not gym type exercise but walking and swimming.
I came back in mid-2005 and planned to continue that way. I got a job and managed to cook and pack lunch. Exercise was much less, but at least my intake was mostly healthy. For a variety of reasons, I gained weight during the winter of 2005. I realised this in early 2006 and did a bit of exercise - mainly swimming, and lost some weight as well. It actually worked as long as I was cooking.
Then I stopped cooking. I also started working harder, staying in office later. So started eating snacks in the office and getting back too late to cook. I gained weight steadily in 2006 and changed jobs towards the end of 2006. I thought that with less of a commute, I'd have more time for a lot of stuff.
Clearly, motivation was lacking. The commute is much less, but then I started getting up later than before. Also, my husband came to live with me in mid 2007, so cooking for 2 began. The downside of this is that one dish rarely lasts for more than one meal. Also, the effort isn't as appreciated as I'd like - so I do it less often. I tried to recruit him into cooking - but he didn't appreciate that at all.
So here I am. It's April 2008 and I weigh about 74 kilos. I'm 5'7" tall. I'm officially 8 kilos overweight. Bordering on obese. I want to have children, but I think I have PCOD - my periods are irregular.
I had very similar issues when I went to Singapore - overweight with irregular periods. But in that year, it all improved. Now it's all back to 2004 levels.
Once more - I am 5'7" tall and weigh 74 kilos. I want to lose weight steadily and maintainably.
In my mind, I know that the correct way to do this is to eat sensibly and to exercise. I know that eating sensibly involves me cooking, or eating fresh fruits and vegetables in larger quantities than I do at present. I know that I must exercise for at least half an hour, at lest 3 times a week.
How do I move from the knowing to the doing?
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